What is it Like? The Process and Experience of Creating Art

Posted on December 2, 2014 by lksukany

How can I describe what it is like creating art?

Well, there are a lot of art quotes about it – here are a few.

Art Quotes

“When it is working, you completely go into another place, you’re tapping into things that are totally universal, completely beyond your ego and your own self. That’s what it’s all about.” ~Keith Haring
“The object isn’t to make art, it’s to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable.” ~Robert Henri
“Art is a collaboration between God and the artist, and the less the artist does the better.” ~André Gide
“Art will remain the most astonishing activity of mankind born out of struggle between wisdom and madness, between dream and reality in our mind.” ~Magdalena Abakanowicz
“The main thing is to be moved, to love, to hope, to tremble, to live.” ~Auguste Rodin

What can I compare creating art to?

> creating art is a process

> through that process there is an experience

> through that experience there are internal elements that happen – thoughts, emotions, desires, feelings, and reactions that are all just like… a personal experience.

I would like to compare creating art with the personal. Whatever your personal experience of thoughts, feelings, and emotion. Experiences that cause your heart to leap or break. The times that you are so focused and controlled and in control, of certainty. These are the similarities of the artist in their studio.

And for some, the comparison could be the adrenaline of taking risks or the anxious waiting for the arrival of long awaited news. For others it could look like moments of parenting, family, or the intimacy of a relationship. It could be similar to feelings or desires of success at work or school or a project. It could be compared to some of the intense drain and restlessness of being homeless or feeling alone. An extreme comparison can be the heartaches of suffering, disease, and death.

The artist holds the ability to access the experience, whether it is their reality, a memory, or an imagination of it. I think because of this, the artist can at times be viewed in the negative as “just being dramatic,” simply reproducing the “real” experience or in worst cases, emotionally parasitic. There seems to be little sympathy or joy alongside the artist because of these negative views.

However, I think it is important to remember that whether “real” or not, the artist is still experiencing while creating, and their experiences are their reality. Be kind to the artist(s) in your life.

Paintings for Livada: Fairytale Romania

Posted on October 27, 2014 by lksukany

When I was on the missions trip with Grace Church serving the Livada Orphan Care ministry in Romania, the beauty of the country inspired me. I had the idea that when I got home to Arkansas I could paint these Romanian scenes and donate the paintings to Livada to raise money for orphan sponsorship.

Our group went to the restaurant called Restaurant Pestisorul de Aur.

When we arrived at the restaurant, there was this beautiful scenery. I posted one of these pictures on social media and one of my friends had commented that where I was looked like something out of a fairy tale. This was one of the first images that started the idea to paint scenes of Romania.

Image to Paint

Charcoal Sketch on Canvas

Painting Sketch (1st Coat)

Painting Sketch (2nd Coat)

Final Painting

Hanging Art with Kelsey

Posted on September 26, 2014 by lksukany

Kelsey texted me to come to Grace Church and bring some art to hang. M and Ein came along to help. We looked through each others work and started placing our work against the walls to see what would look good where. The wall was such a dark brown that only certain pieces worked in the space.

We shifted and looked, shifted and looked and so on until we were satisfied of what piece we wanted where.

We pulled out the hammer and nails and just eyeballed it. We didn’t use a tape measure or a level…basically a big “hanging art no no.” Why didn’t we call Ephraim!

All of the work went well together in the end!

Kelsey was a lot of fun to hang art with. She was just really relaxed and open to many different options. It made things very easy.

Thanks to M for driving, carrying art, taking pictures, and general advice. Thanks to Ein for sniffing everything and being cute.

A Studio Day

Posted on September 24, 2014 by lksukany

My studio day was spent working on the Romania paintings. I approached my studio space and knew I needed a fresh space to work in. I rearranged my studio, moving everything around to make a new space for myself.

View from the window

View from the door

With my fresh space, I put on my audio track, and set up my paintings. My goal for the day was to cover the 13 charcoal sketched canvas in paint. I placed all of the canvas around the room in a line.

I approached my easel and worked on mixing my color palette (oil paint).

When covered in paint, the canvas was moved on top of the drafting table and flat file cabinet. The uncovered canvas would all get to move one space forward in their little line.

I was covered in paint and pretty tired by the end, but it was a job well done!

The Bus-y-ness of Art

Posted on September 18, 2014 by lksukany

“I’m busy.” There, I said it. You are probably busy too. What kind of busy is a better question. Too busy busy? Too tired busy? You may not even know what year it is busy or pretending it is still last weekend busy.

Wherever you are on the busy scale, there is still time…

I have been busy lately. Busy at work and with house chores, with organization and family relationships, busy with pet maintenance and meal planning, busy with fixing all of the many broken things in my house and car and life! I am also busy with my art and music projects amidst the busyness. What’s that you say? I am actually working on art and music projects while being “life busy” busy?! Yes I am! The deal is, that I just keep the art and music projects on my giant to-do list. And I do mean GIANT – it’s like never ending in my mind…

The bus-y-ness or business of art is that it just keeps going. You keep making it, keep generating ideas and writing them down, keep on keeping on – whether calm or not.

My friend S recently said he can only paint when he feels secure. He hasn’t painted in almost 7 years. My advice was to just pull out a sketch book and draw something. Not a finished masterpiece something, just his foot or something. It’s never going to be the perfect time to make a painting or write a song. Even retired people don’t get to really retire anymore. So there is never going to be time. Add it to your to-do list, and I guarantee sketching your foot is going to look a lot better than scrubbing the bathtub on a Saturday afternoon. So, I must show that I practice what I preach, so you won’t roll your eyes while hating me.

I will share with you projects I am working on this week – these projects come after work, carpooling, dinner, and daily chores.

Romania paintings

I have been working in my art studio on the Romania painting series for Livada orphan sponsorship. This one has been difficult to get through – emotionally. Though it feels amazing to be able to be what I think could be called an artist missionary, there has also been a lot of internal pressure on myself to make these paintings excellent. Also, I don’t know how much money they will raise for child sponsorship, and that makes me feel like “will this make a difference for the Livada orphans?” I am most likely over thinking it and psyching myself out – just need to paint!

The Last Baby Angel set design

Then there is the set design for the Last Baby Angel play based on the novel “The Last Baby Angel” by Sam Brown. It’s the first time I have ever done set design, and am still working on the research phase. I was able to call someone in the social work field this week and they were helpful and described some details of what an addicts home looks like.

Banjo Practice

Playing music is just something I have to keep doing. if you don’t use it, you lose it. I try to practice my banjo rolls and songs every day – whether for 15 minutes or an hour. I take one banjo lesson per week with the amazing Bill Nesbitt (who currently plays with the Clark Family Trio).

KUAR Arts & Letters

M and I are working on recording songs for the KUAR Arts & Letters Arkansas Authors show to be recorded in early October. We are also in the process of writing a Valentines Day song for the KUAR Arts & Letters Valentines Day show (The Damsels in Distress interview) to be aired in February. The cool thing about this is that I have someone to work with (motivation) to complete the projects!

So, I know you are “life busy” too, but what can you add to your giant to-do list to make space to continue functioning as a creative person?

Paper Opera

Art, music, and stories.

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